Hot weather is persisting across Greece on Friday as temperatures rise to 39 degrees Celsius in western regions alongside strong Aegean winds reaching 8 Beaufort.
The Greek national meteorological service reports a slight further increase in continental temperatures, where maximum levels will range between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius throughout the day.
Most of the country will experience generally clear skies, although localized cloud cover will build over mainland areas during the midday and afternoon hours. Brief showers are expected in mountainous districts, while eastern Macedonia and Thrace face the possibility of isolated thunderstorms.
Northerly winds will remain elevated across the region, blowing at speeds of 4 to 6 Beaufort inland and reaching local strength of 7 to 8 Beaufort in the Aegean Sea. On the Beaufort scale, an 8 Beaufort wind represents gale-force conditions capable of producing high waves and severe sea turbulence.
Island communities will see milder conditions overall with highs of 33 degrees Celsius, though southern Crete and the Dodecanese islands will experience localized peaks of 36 degrees Celsius.
Regional Temperatures and Wind Patterns
In Macedonia and Thrace, northern Greece will see mostly clear conditions with developing afternoon clouds. Localized rain showers are set to affect eastern Macedonia and Thrace, where isolated thunderstorms may also form. Conditions will improve by evening across most areas, except in central Macedonia where cloudiness will linger.
Winds across Macedonia and Thrace will blow from eastern directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort, strengthening locally in eastern sections to 6 Beaufort. Temperatures will range from 20 to 37 degrees Celsius, hitting 38 degrees Celsius in central Macedonia, while western Macedonia remains 2 to 3 degrees cooler.
Western regions including the Ionian Islands, Epirus, Western Sterea, and Western Peloponnese will encounter generally sunny skies with temporary afternoon clouds over the mountains. Winds will blow from the west-northwest at 4 to 6 Beaufort, with temperatures ranging from 24 to 38 degrees Celsius and peaking locally at 39 degrees Celsius.
In Thessaly, Eastern Sterea, Evia, and Eastern Peloponnese, weather will stay clear with brief afternoon mountain clouds and potential showers in Thessaly. Winds will blow from the east at 3 to 5 Beaufort, while temperatures span from 24 to 38 degrees Celsius, touching 39 degrees Celsius in parts of Thessaly.
Island Forecasts and Major Urban Centers
The Cyclades and Crete will enjoy clear conditions throughout Friday, accompanied by strong northerly winds of 5 to 7 Beaufort that will reach 8 Beaufort in southeastern waters. Temperatures across the Cyclades and northern Crete will range from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, reaching 35 degrees Celsius in southern Crete.
Across the Eastern Aegean Islands and the Dodecanese, skies will remain clear under northerly winds of 5 to 7 Beaufort, locally rising to 8 Beaufort in southern maritime areas. Temperatures will range between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius, with the southernmost Dodecanese reaching 36 to 37 degrees Celsius.
Attica, the capital region encompassing Athens, will see generally clear weather. Winds will blow from eastern directions at 3 to 5 Beaufort before turning north-northeasterly in eastern sections by evening up to 6 Beaufort, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.
Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, will have mostly clear skies with temporary afternoon clouds over surrounding mountains where brief showers could develop. Winds will start variable at 2 to 3 Beaufort before shifting east-southeasterly at 3 to 5 Beaufort from noon, with temperatures between 23 and 36 degrees Celsius.
Three Day Weekend Outlook
On Saturday, August 29, weather will remain generally clear across the country. Morning cloud cover will temporarily increase in Macedonia, eastern Thessaly, and the Sporades islands, followed by midday and afternoon continental clouds that will bring showers and isolated thunderstorms primarily to mountain areas.
Winds on Saturday will blow from southern directions at 4 to 5 Beaufort in the west, reaching 6 Beaufort locally, while eastern regions will face northerly winds of 5 to 7 Beaufort, rising to 8 Beaufort in the southeast. Temperatures across Greece will mark a noticeable drop on Saturday.
On Sunday, August 30, sunny conditions will dominate, though temporary afternoon clouds will produce local rain and mountain thunderstorms in western regions. Early morning visibility will be locally reduced in the west, with westerly winds of 3 to 4 Beaufort in western areas and northerly winds of 4 to 6 Beaufort, locally 7 Beaufort, in eastern waters. Temperatures will see no significant change.
On Monday, August 31, conditions will stay clear with afternoon clouds bringing localized mountain showers across the mainland and potential thunderstorms over the mountains of central Macedonia. Early morning visibility will again be limited in western regions, while temperatures will experience a slight rise across continental Greece.
